抽血
chōuxiě
The English phrase 'draw blood' is translated into Mandarin as 抽血 (chōuxiě).
The phrase 抽血 is used for both medical blood tests and blood donations.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate the action of drawing blood has been completed, the aspect particle 了 (le) can be inserted between the verb and the object, resulting in 抽了血 (drew blood / has drawn blood).
How do you pronounce it?
chōuxiě
Did you know?
- The verb 抽 (chōu) used in 抽血 means 'to pull out' or 'to extract'. This is the same word used for 'smoking' a cigarette, as the act is viewed as drawing smoke into the lungs.
- The character 血 (xuè) is a pictograph that originally depicted droplets of blood dripping from a vessel. This ancient visual representation remains clearly visible in the character's structure today.
- While 抽血 is the standard term, a person donating blood may describe themselves as 献血 (xiànxuè). The word 献 means 'to offer' or 'to dedicate', giving the act a more selfless, ritualistic tone than a medical draw.
Examples in context
- 明天早上，医生会给您抽血以进行化验。Tomorrow morning, the doctor will draw blood from you for testing.
- 医生要为我抽血。Yīshēng yào wèi wǒ chōuxiě.The doctor needs to draw blood from me.
- 护士正在为病人抽血。Hùshi zhèngzài wèi bìngrén chōuxiě.The nurse is drawing blood for the patient.
- 抽血需要多少时间？Chōuxiě xūyào duōshǎo shíjiān?How long does it take to draw blood?
Example conversation
Wei and Xiaowen are at a medical clinic.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，现在轮到你抽血了。Xiǎowén, xiànzài lún dào nǐ chōuxuè le.Xiaowen, it is your turn to draw blood now.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我有点害怕抽血。Wǒ yǒudiǎn hàipà chōuxuè.I am a little afraid of drawing blood.
- 伟 Wei别担心，很快就结束了。Bié dānxīn, hěn kuài jiù jiéshù le.Don't worry, it will be over very quickly.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好吧，我这就过去。Hǎo ba, wǒ zhè jiù guòqù.Alright, I will go over there now.
